Graduates: Passing the third degree

Now its payback time. You have a degree and the next stage is landing the good job.

You have thought carefully through your career aspirations, selected your potential employer and you have a strong view of the initial areas in which you want to specialise BUT you have to pass the third degree: the interview.
Rejoice and be glad for the interview, as you are about to discover, is one of the most unreliable management techniques there is because both parties are on their best behavior.

You know this to be true. Why have you just gone out and invested in an interview outfit?.

Men, when was the last time you went to a meeting wearing a collar and tie? Women - why have you just bought a jacket that makes you look like an executive penguin?

Now, to help you through the third degree, here are 16 standard questions.

You can find another 35 typical questions in the graduate section of my book The Best Job-hunt in the World.

• How/why did you choose this degree program?
• How will your studies relate to your work?
• What have you enjoyed most at university?
• Tell me about your career aspirations?
• Why are you interested in management/marketing/finance?
• Why did you apply to us?
• What do you know about us?
• Why should we select you?
• How did you fund yourself through university?
• And what did you learn from it?
• How have you contributed to the university? (This is recruiter code for, 'are you a giver or a taker?')
• What are your interests outside your area of study?
• How would your tutor describe you?
• In what societies are you an active member?
• What will you do if we do not take you?
• What other firms have you applied to?